11-08-2026, 09:13 AM
Stanford 81 - Oakland 63. Michigan 82 - Oakland 64. Bring on the Wolverines1
This win was a little more routine than the first one was. And I did enjoy my freebie Shake Shack burger yesterday courtesy of a couple missed Grizzly free throws. It's way too early for to many conclusions, but it does seem that Stanford is in good shape to take care of business in the games they "should" win. Last season they were 5-6, 4-3, 4-4, & 7-0 in Quad 1, 2, 3, & 4 games - finishing #62 in the NCAA net rankings. The 4 Quad 3 losses were a big problem on their post-season tournament resume. NET rankings don't get started until sometime in December, but these first 2 wins are likely to be Quad 4, with another likely Quad 4 coming up on Monday vs. Rice - and 6-7 more coming up before starting the ACC schedule. Stanford needs to avoid stumbling in these games if they want to maintain the upward trajectory that Coach Smith & Co. seem to have established.
Donavin Young was out with an injury from the first game. Coach Smith said he is "day to day" for the near future. As to the "bigs", Kristers Skrinda & Tallis Toure both missed lots of last season with injuries - I've not heard anything about their status this season - but hopefully they can provide some depth. Aidan Cammann & Nick Townsend have been solid, but will need some help when we meet up with some bigger & stronger opposition. Austin Maurer provided that vs. Oakland, but getting something from Skrinda &/or Toure could be a big boost. Drew Anderson is a 6'9" freshman who could also provide some depth - I don't know how prepared he is to step into a role at this point.
There wasn't quite the same scoring balance vs Oakland as there was vs E. Wash, but Christian Bliss sure came through in a big way - 17 points, including 4/5 from 3 - one from Steph Curry depth. This seems to be a team that could get scoring from a variety of players on any given night, and Friday was his night.
This win was a little more routine than the first one was. And I did enjoy my freebie Shake Shack burger yesterday courtesy of a couple missed Grizzly free throws. It's way too early for to many conclusions, but it does seem that Stanford is in good shape to take care of business in the games they "should" win. Last season they were 5-6, 4-3, 4-4, & 7-0 in Quad 1, 2, 3, & 4 games - finishing #62 in the NCAA net rankings. The 4 Quad 3 losses were a big problem on their post-season tournament resume. NET rankings don't get started until sometime in December, but these first 2 wins are likely to be Quad 4, with another likely Quad 4 coming up on Monday vs. Rice - and 6-7 more coming up before starting the ACC schedule. Stanford needs to avoid stumbling in these games if they want to maintain the upward trajectory that Coach Smith & Co. seem to have established.
Donavin Young was out with an injury from the first game. Coach Smith said he is "day to day" for the near future. As to the "bigs", Kristers Skrinda & Tallis Toure both missed lots of last season with injuries - I've not heard anything about their status this season - but hopefully they can provide some depth. Aidan Cammann & Nick Townsend have been solid, but will need some help when we meet up with some bigger & stronger opposition. Austin Maurer provided that vs. Oakland, but getting something from Skrinda &/or Toure could be a big boost. Drew Anderson is a 6'9" freshman who could also provide some depth - I don't know how prepared he is to step into a role at this point.
There wasn't quite the same scoring balance vs Oakland as there was vs E. Wash, but Christian Bliss sure came through in a big way - 17 points, including 4/5 from 3 - one from Steph Curry depth. This seems to be a team that could get scoring from a variety of players on any given night, and Friday was his night.